Press Feature: Mayor’s Business Spotlight: Food Finders

This article was first published on Thelosalloop.org on August 12, 2026.

The City of Los Alamitos is proud to recognize Food Finders as the latest organization featured in the City’s Mayor’s Business Spotlight Program, celebrating its remarkable commitment to reducing hunger, eliminating food waste, and improving nutrition throughout Southern California.

During the City Council Meeting on Monday, July 20, 2026, the Los Alamitos City Council proudly presented a Certificate of Recognition to Diana Lara, Executive Director of Food Finders, in honor of the organization being featured in the Mayor’s Business Spotlight Program. The recognition celebrated Food Finders’ lasting impact on the community and its dedication to serving thousands of individuals and families experiencing food insecurity.

Headquartered in Los Alamitos, Food Finders opened in 1990 and has become a regional leader in food rescue by connecting businesses with surplus, wholesome food to nonprofit organizations serving those in need. Rather than allowing edible food to end up in landfills, Food Finders coordinates the daily collection and immediate redistribution of donated food from grocery stores, restaurants, hospitals, schools, manufacturers, and other food providers. This innovative model helps address two critical challenges at once, hunger and food waste.

Operating across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties, Food Finders rescues millions of pounds of food each year through the support of hundreds of food donors, nonprofit partners, and volunteers. The organization’s network helps provide approximately 30,000 meals every day while ensuring nutritious food reaches local food pantries, shelters, youth programs, senior centers, and other community organizations that serve vulnerable populations.

Assistant City Manager/Development Services Director Ron Noda stated, “This business is a bit different than our usual Mayor’s Business Spotlight, but they provide such an important service that the City had to highlight their efforts.”

In addition to its signature Food Rescue Program, Food Finders operates several impactful initiatives, including Food 4 Kids, which provides weekend meal boxes to students facing food insecurity, the Food HUB, which supplies nonprofit agencies with fresh produce and perishable foods, and Backyard Harvest, a program that rescues surplus fruits and vegetables from residential properties before they go to waste. Together, these programs help strengthen food security while promoting environmental sustainability.

The City of Los Alamitos’ Mayor’s Business Spotlight Program is a complimentary initiative designed to recognize outstanding local businesses and organizations that contribute to the vitality of the community. Through short video interviews shared on the City’s social media platforms, the program highlights each participant’s story, services, and contributions while encouraging residents to learn more about the exceptional organizations that call Los Alamitos home. Eligible participants must maintain a current City business license and be in good standing with the City.

Residents interested in learning more about Food Finders, volunteering, donating food, or supporting its mission are encouraged to visit the organization’s website. Likewise, businesses interested in being featured in a future Mayor’s Business Spotlight are invited to learn more about the program through the City’s Economic Development Division.